BREXIT consequences in terms of residence law

Great Britain and Northern Ireland will leave the European Union at the end of January 31, 2020.

According to Section 1 of the Brexit Transition Act, Great Britain and Northern Ireland will continue to be a member state of the European Union for the transition period until December 31, 2020. This means that they will continue to be entitled to freedom of movement in 2020. The residence rights of British nationals and their family members and the right to work in Germany will not change in the meantime. British citizens therefore do not need a residence permit until December 31, 2020 if they wish to live in Bremen.

From January 1, 2021, British nationals who were entitled to reside or work in Germany until then and had made use of this right will essentially have the same rights as before the withdrawal. The rights are therefore frozen, as it were, insofar as they have also been used. These rights exist "by operation of law". You can therefore assert them without any further action on your part.

However, in order to prove that you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement, it is mandatory that you obtain a document from the Migration Board. Therefore, all British citizens are obliged to report your stay in Germany to the Migration Office. You can find more details under the menu item Procedure.

In principle, British nationals and their family members can continue to be employed beyond 31.12.2020 if they were already employed there previously.

For more information on the right of residence and employment for British nationals and their family members, see "i" Where can I find out more?